OLYMPICS: Short track-Netherlands’ Velzeboer and Van't Wout take golds

MILAN – Dutch skaters dominated short track speed skating at the Milano Olympics on Thursday, with Xandra Velzeboer winning the women's 500 metres gold and Jens van 't Wout claiming the men's 1000 metres crown in a thrilling finish.

Velzeboer, 24, who had set a world record in the semi-final, denied reigning champion Arianna Fontana a third consecutive Olympic gold in the event. The Italian skater had to settle for silver, while Canada's Courtney Sarault took bronze.

With 13 Olympic medals across six Games, Fontana is now tied with fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti, who competed in five Olympics from 1936 to 1960, for the most Olympic medals by an Italian athlete.

"This is the best day of my life. It's amazing. It's been my goal for the last four years, maybe for my entire life," Velzeboer said after her victory.

Dutch Skaters Bounce Back from Relay Disappointment

The Milan Ice Skating Arena was awash in orange as Dutch fans celebrated Velzeboer's triumph. The win came after Tuesday's fall had prevented her team from qualifying for the final of the mixed relay. Van 't Wout, who also skated in the mixed relay, expressed mixed emotions.

"Of course this doesn't fix what happened. We're still upset because we wanted to get all six skaters from the mixed relay on the podium. But this shows how strong our team is. For me, it confirms that I can skate," van 't Wout, 24, said.

Men’s Race Decided in Last-Gasp Battle

The men's 1000 metres race went down to the wire, with van 't Wout narrowly beating China's Sun Long and South Korea's Rim Jong-un in a photo finish. Canadian William Dandjinou, world No.1, led for part of the race but finished fourth.

"It was incredible. I have to see the race. I was so focused on positioning that I had no idea what happened during the race," van 't Wout said.

Dandjinou reflected on the tight finish. "My game plan was good, my race was good but I slipped with one lap to go. The race was so tight. I will be back," he told reporters.

Arena Echoes with Dutch Fans

As the medal ceremony unfolded, chants of "Holland, Holland" filled the arena. Velzeboer celebrated with her family and boyfriend in the crowd, while van 't Wout said the support made the moment unforgettable.

"I came onto the rink through the tunnel, and just to hear the whole crowd go crazy, it was so beautiful," he said.

-Editing by Keith Weir/Reuters